The happiness we deserve: Post-Convocation Reception Speech — Rev. Fr. Nwauzor Pius Chibuike Ph.D

I came across something of interest, which motivated me, and I would love to share it with you, it says, “You are smart enough, beautiful enough, and strong enough! Believe it and stop letting insecurity ruin you. Nothing holds you back more than your own insecurity. Do one thing every day that scares you; for you are better than this! Stop worrying; it doesn’t take away tomorrow’s trouble, it takes away today’s peace; what you fear you empower, what you empower you attract! The battlefield is your mind, secure it. Listen, your mind is the foundation; change your mind-set; for your mind-set provokes your skill set!”

The idea that I am smart enough and strong enough got stock in my mind, that in my daily reflections and monologues, I never wanted to dispute that, and never wanted anybody to see me otherwise. For that singular reason I worked hard every day to improve myself.

One other thing that was of enormous assistance was the Aristotelian principle on happiness, which states that, “Natural desires are meant to be fulfilled. Happiness is a natural desire. Therefore, happiness can be attained.” In nature we see that all natural tendencies reach their actualization: the eye desires to see and it can, the ear to hear and it can, the body to nourish itself and it can. Such assertion made me still believe that real happiness can be achieved amidst the vicissitudes of life.

The truth is that we all aspire for something more or less distant; and yet tend towards it because we hope that it will bring us a crumb of happiness. This aspiration for happiness is natural. No man exists in the world who does not desire happiness. Only to find happiness men amass wealth, search for glory and pleasure. But Fr. Maximilian Kolbe asks, “How could the soul’s most ardent and important desire remain unfulfilled?” Man is composed of both body and soul. Thus, to attain real happiness we must always strike a balance in satiating the desires of both, mostly the soul, as St. Augustine said that our souls cannot rest until they rest in the Lord.

In my own case, I would count myself lucky because, early in life my parents bequeathed me with the two most precious treasures, Faith and burning desire for knowledge. That is why I am here today. Not rich in money though, but happy and fulfilled. I discovered sports early in life as a tool to aid me walk through stress, achieve happiness, and succeed in life. My family members can testify that I loved football a lot and played well till I had knee injury, then I switched to tennis, which made me discover this wonderful Standard Tennis Club and these wonderful people you see today. Tennis helped me to attain a certain level of serenity and peace of mind: the message is, “in all conditions, be silent, be happy and move on.”

We all need a good place and people that are not bad to escape from the worries of this life and to focus on good things we need to achieve in life. My dear friends, tennis is beautiful, it is a gladiator play and it is also a dance, because you must make the right footwork to get the good result you want, and you must follow the rhythm of the ball. To make good points, you must ensure the ball hits at the sweet spot of the racket. Then, to be successful in the game of tennis, you need personality, power, and finesse. In the game, there are no substitutions, no draws and no petting of balls or self, you must pommel your body to record success by fighting to finish.

A good instance to buttress the points earlier made, is what happened 22nd – 24th June 2010, at Wimbledon, when the longest match was played in the game of Tennis between Isner vs Mahut. Both players have gone on to become best of friends and Isner is godfather to Mahut’s Child. That is the beauty of tennis. Competitive, but creates bonds. Tennis is beautiful; tennis is life because it is one of those games you can comfortably play into the ripe old age.

What other qualities do we need to achieve success in life, to remain healthy and to live longer? As someone who believes and wrote extensively on Self-Realization of the Personality in the Philosophy of John Stuart Mill, I believe that every nation is as developed as the level the citizens are developed. That is to say, if the citizens are strong, healthy and educationally developed, there is no how that nation would not be developed. In tennis one learns Individuality, Integrity, and Self-Realization. One learns how to celebrate Success/winning and learns how best to cope with failures/losses.

In tennis one learns focus, doggedness, competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship. That is why tennis players are happy people, always looking young, healthy and are great achievers. This hallowed courts helped me to debug my mind from stress, strike a balance and focus on more important things while doing my academic works in the university. I was able to effectively combine the tedious parish work with heavy academic tasks. By the time I defended my doctoral thesis; I was the Cathedral Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara and yet did not go nuts.

That is why it is right that I come back here to celebrate after achieving that for which I frequented Owerri, the Imo State capital from Mbaise where I reside and work. I chose this Tennis Club because, it is known for its high moral standard and comprises of reputable personalities who excelled in their various fields of endeavor. Little wonder, many Catholic Priests feel comfortable playing here as members of this great club that has produced national champions over time.

A renowned spiritual writer, Thomas A Kempis, in one of his works My Imitation of Christ, says, “The more a man is united within himself, and interiorly simple, the more and higher things he would understand without labour, because he receives the light of understanding from above.” On that note therefore, I wish to thank God Almighty for the wonders of my being, for what I am now and what I will become. I thank the premier bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, late Bishop V.A. Chikwe, through whom God chose me to become a Catholic priest.

I thank the Apostolic Administrator of Ahiara Diocese Arch. Bishop Lucius I. Ugorji, Members of the Ahiara Presbyterium, all the Priests who worked with me, or still working with me and my other brother priests from other dioceses. I thank my family – the Nwauzors ably represented today, my nephews and nieces. I wish also to thank Oke Ovoro Priests and Religious Association represented by the able President Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Ibe. I thank my Academic Mentors, most especially, my Ph.D supervisor Rev. Fr. Prof. Jerome Okonkwo, Dr. Donald Omenuko, Dr. Mrs. Chidimma (The only Female lecturer in the IMSU Philosophy department).

I thank the 2019 Ph.D set of IMSU, who are celebrating today. I thank all my benefactors, who supported me financially to achieve this. I thank Members of St. Gregory’s Catholic Parish Umuhu Okwuato, where I am serving now and all other parishes where I served. In a most special way, I thank the Standard Tennis Club for organising this grand reception to mark my Ph.D convocation. My special thanks go to the able President of the club – Chief Churchill Iheaburuke (Up Presdo.); Sir Sunny Nganya (Vice President); Board of Trustees; Patrons; Acc. Emmanuel Duru (President Emeritus) and all other past Presidents of the Club; Engr. Chukwu Anya (General Sec.); Coach George Sibigam Egeronu (Captain of the Club); Other Excos; Celebrities and past Excos of the Club.

I also thank the Organizing Committee, Mr. Iwuanyanwu, Engr. Chukwudi and Coach Sibigam. I thank Match Officials: (1) Coach George Sibigam Egeronu (Chief Umpire and No. 1 Tennis Player of the Club); (2) Miss Oluchi Sylvaline Ozurumba (Line’s Judge 1 and Female National Tennis Player); (3) Engr. Chukwu Anya (Line’s Judge 2). My special thanks also go to the two great players, (1) Mr. Uche Oparaoji (Nigeria No.1 Tennis Player and a Staff of Nigeria Road-Safty; (2) Mr. Akagha Samuel (The State Tennis Captain) – A Staff of Nigeria Correction Services (Prisons).

I thank in a special way, my amiable classmates of Opkala Junior seminary, 1990-Set (SPCS) Owerri Branch – Mr. Vitalis Nwelue (President), and other Executives. I also recognize Prof. Akachi Odemene – (Dean History and International Relations, Otuoke Fed. University); Chief Sir Chibuzor Nnorom (Regional Manager UBA) and other members in attendance. I thank My brother and friends – gentlemen and ladies of the press who gave this ceremony the kind of publicity I do not deserve, (1) Mr. Jude Nwauzor my immediate senior brother (Head, Corporate Communications Department, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria – AMCON); (2) Rev. Fr. Protase Ayanwu – the Executive Editor –Guide News Paper (3) Mr. Martin Ori – My friend and Classmate – an erudite journalist; (4) Mrs. Ugonna Agu of Heart Land Radio (FRCN) Owerri; (5) Mr. Onwunali John Kennedy (Wakawaka Sports News); (6) Mrs. Vivian Iwu (Editor Sunday Statesman Newspaper). I thank all those who worked behind the scenes to make today’s event a success, all my friends and relatives here present and those who sent their goodwill messages.

My prayer for you all is that God will grant you the happiness you deserve. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Nwauzor Pius Chibuike (Ph.D) the incumbent Parish Priest of St. Gregory’s Catholic Parish Umuhu Okwuato delivered this speech on February 4, 2023 in Owerri, the capital of Imo State Southeast Nigeria.